effects of cage systems and feeding time on the morphological structure of female genital organs in...

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VETERINARSKI ARHIV 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

* Contact address:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Yıldız, Anatomy Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludag University, 16140 Görükle- Bursa, Turkey, Phone: +90 224 442 9200; Fax: +90 224 442 8025; E-mail: [email protected]

ISSN 0372-5480Printed in Croatia

Effects of cage systems and feeding time on the morphological structure of female genital organs in pharaoh quails

(Coturnix coturnix pharaoh)

Hüseyin Yıldız1*, Bestami Yılmaz2, Ilker Arıcan1, Metin Petek3, and Ali Bahadır1

1Anatomy Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludag University, Turkey2Anatomy Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Harran University, Turkey

3Zootechnics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludag University, Turkey

YILDIZ, H., B. YILMAZ, I. ARICAN, M. PETEK, A. BAHADIR: Effects of cage systems and feeding time on the morphological structure of female genital organs in pharaoh quails (Coturnix coturnix pharaoh). Vet. arhiv 76, 381-389, 2006.

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different cage systems and feeding time on female

genital organs in 40 pharaoh quails (Coturnix coturnix pharaoh). The birds were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups (2 levels of feeding time × 2-cage system) consisting of 10 quails per treatment. Quails were trained on feeding time (0900 to 1700, or continuous - full day), cage (multiple-bird cage or colony cage) conditions. Body mass, ovary and oviduct mass and their ratio to body mass and oviduct length was measured. Number of follicles was calculated and classified as small, medium and large, based on their diameter. The cage system did not significantly affect reproductive organs, but this was not the case for oviduct length (P<0.01). Feeding time also did not significantly affect follicle numbers, except medium follicle numbers (P<0.05). The medium number of follicles in the full day feeding was more than that of the 0900 to 1700 feeding. Total numbers of follicles in multiple-bird cage were higher than those of colony cage birds.

Key words: genital organs, anatomy, cage system, feeding time, pharaoh quail

IntroductionMultiple threshold traits associated with growth and body composition are critical for

the onset of sexual maturity (ZELANKA et al., 1984). Optimal body mass and age may be required for the onset of lay in birds (BRODY et al., 1980).

382 Vet. arhiv 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

Numerous studies have been performed to determine the effect of different feeding times on broiler breeder performance and reproductive organs, with incongruous results. Feed intake should be restricted up to the onset of lay and then increased in relation to the rise in egg production (HOCKING, 1996). Feed restriction during the rearing period signifi cantly delayed oviduct development and age at sexual maturity (YU et al., 1992) and reduces the growth rate of turkey breeder hens (MILES and LEESON, 1990). Daily restriction in feeding for a longer period (total 6 h or more) may also alter the reproductive function in wild birds (SIKDAR, 2002).

Whether feeding early or late during the day can be used as a means to improve body mass, genital organs and follicles number in Pharaoh quail, especially normal in circum-stances, is unknown. Therefore, two feeding periods were studied to measure the impact of feeding time on reproductive organ morphology of Pharaoh quail (Coturnix coturnix pharaoh) cage multiple or colony.

Materials and methodsThe experimental procedures employed in this study were in accordance with the princi-

ples and guidelines set out by the Committee of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on Animal Care. Forty female pharaoh quails (Coturnix coturnix pharaoh) obtained from the Animal Production, Research and Application Centre of Veterinary Faculty of Uludag University were used in this study. After 5% egg production was reached, the birds were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups (2 levels of feeding time × 2-system cage) consisting of 10 quails per treatment based on feeding time (0900 to 1700, or continuous – full day), cage (1 male and 1 female in multiple-bird or 5 male and 5 female in colony) conditions. The quails were reared in the same environmental conditions.

At age 42 weeks, all quails from each treatment group were killed humanely by decapitation (ANONYMOUS, 2003). The body mass of each bird was recorded prior to killing. The body cavity was opened and genital organs were determined. Oviduct and ovary masses were evaluated with digital balance (Densi DS-20 Turkey and Sartorius H110, USA, respectively). Relative masses of ovary and oviduct were calculated. Oviduct length was measured with a digital compass (Mitutuyo Corporation, Kawasaki, Japan). The ovarian follicles were separated by means of a magnifying glass from the ovaries and divided into three categories based on diameter as small (1.0-4.9 mm), medium (5.0-14.9 mm) and large (15 mm-above) according to RAHMAN et al. (1999). The number of follicles was then counted. A digital camera (Nikon D100, Nikon Corporation, Japan) was used to collect the image.

Statistical analysis was performed by Minitab statistical package (for Windows version 14). The ANOVA was to compare the means obtained in each group.

H. Yıldız et al.: Effects of cage systems and feeding time on the morphological structure of female genital organs in pharaoh quails (Coturnix coturnix pharaoh)

383Vet. arhiv 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

For the terminology, the Nomina Anatomica Avium (ANONYMOUS, 1993) was used.

ResultsThe main and interactive effects of different cage system and feeding time on body

mass and reproductive organs are presented in Table1. The main effect: cage system did not signifi cantly affect the reproductive organs and body mass, except oviduct length (P<0.01), in birds. Although the other main effect, feeding time, did not signifi cantly affect the genital organs, body mass was signifi cantly (P<0.001) affected. The interactive effect had no signifi cant infl uence neither on the body mass nor reproductive system organs, except oviduct length (P<0.05).

Table 1. Measures of body mass and reproductive organs in different cage system and feeding time (mean ± SD).

Cage density and feeding time

Body mass (g)

Ovary mass (g)

Relative mass of ovary

Oviduct mass (g)

Relative mass of oviduct

Oviduct length (cm)

Main effect

Cage system

Colony 255.97 ± 5.22

0.196 ± 0.43

0.0007 ± 0.00

5.37 ± 0.23

0.020 ± 0.00

218.31 ± 6.36

Multiple 248.44 ± 5.22

0.146 ± 0.43

0.0005 ± 0.00

5.36 ± 0.23

0.021 ± 0.00

244.47 ± 6.36

Signifi cance N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. P<0.01

Feeding time

Full day 265.52 ± 5.22

0.173 ± 0.43

0.0006 ± 0.00

5.87 ± 0.23

0.022 ± 0.00

227.10 ± 6.36

0900 to 1700 238.89 ± 5.22

0.169 ± 0.43

0.0007 ± 0.00

5.21 ± 0.23

0.021 ± 0.00

235.68 ± 6.36

Signifi cance P<0.001 N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S.

Interactive effect

Colony × full day

270.09 ± 7.38

0.176 ± 0.61

0.0006 ± 0.00

6.12 ± 0.33

0.022 ± 0.00

268.62 ± 8.99

Colony × 0900 to 1700

241.86 ± 7.38

0.215 ± 0.61

0.0008 ± 0.00

5.31 ± 0.33

0.021 ± 0.00

233.00 ± 8.99

Multiple × full day

260.96 ± 7.38

0.170 ± 0.61

0.0006 ± 0.00

5.59 ± 0.33

0.021 ± 0.00

250.59 ± 8.99

Multiple × 0900 to 1700

235.92 ± 7.38

0.122 ± 0.61

0.0005 ± 0.00

5.12 ± 0.33

0.021 ± 0.00

238.36 ± 8.99

Interaction N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. P<0.05

N.S. - not signifi cant


384 Vet. arhiv 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

The main and interactive effects of different cage system and feeding time on follicle numbers are presented in Table 2. Although the main effect, cage system, had a signifi cant effect on the number of small (P<0.001), medium (P<0.05) and total follicles (P<0.001), it had no effect on the number of large follicles. The multiple reared birds developed a greater number of small follicles (P<0.001). Feeding time, the other main effect, did not signifi cantly affect the number of follicles, except that of the medium follicles (P<0.05). There was no remarkable change in the number of large follicles due to cage system and feeding time. The interactive effects were not signifi cant on the numbers of medium and large follicles, except those of small follicles (P<0.05) (Fig. 1).

Table 2. Number of follicles in different cage system and feeding (mean ± SD)

Cage density andfeeding time

Small follicles No

(1.0 - 4.9 mm)

Medium follicles No (5.0 - 14.9

mm)

Large follicles No (15.0 mm - above)

Total No of follicles

Main effect

Cage system

Colony 35.05 ± 2.53

1.56 ± 0.12

2.00 ± 0.11

36.27 ± 2.16

Multiple 61.66 ± 2.53

1.16 ± 0.12

2.00 ± 0.11

64.38 ± 2.16

Signifi cance P < 0.001 P < 0.05 N.S. P < 0.001

Feeding time

Full day 49.61 ± 2.53

1.55 ± 0.12

2.05 ± 0.11

53.05 ± 2.16

0900 to 1700 47.11 ± 2.53

1.16 ± 0.12

1.94 ± 0.11

47.61 ± 2.16

Signifi cance N.S. P < 0.05 N.S. N.S.

Interactive effect

Colony × full day 32.44 ± 3.59

1.88 ± 0.17

2.11 ± 0.16

36.33 ± 3.05

Colony × 0900 to 1700 37.66 ± 3.59

1.22 ± 0.17

1.88 ± 0.16

40.25 ± 3.05

Multiple × full day 66.77 ± 3.59

1.22 ± 0.17

2.00 ± 0.16

69.77 ± 3.05

Multiple × 0900 to 1700 56.55 ± 3.59

1.11 ± 0.17

2.00 ± 0.16

59.00 ± 3.05

Interaction P < 0.05 N.S. N.S. N.S.N.S. - not signifi cant


385Vet. arhiv 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

DiscussionThere are many studies (GOODLING et al., 1984; MILES and LEESON, 1990; LILBURN and

NESTOR, 1993; ROBINSON et al., 2001) about the morphological structure of genital organs in birds. This study presents some characteristics of these organs in pharaoh quails.

The body masses of the birds fed ad libitum were heavier by 46% than those fed a restricted diet (RENEMA et al., 1999a). Birds maintained at low mean body mass by con-tinued restriction did not come into lay (BRODY et al., 1980). We observed that full day feeding was more effective than the 0900 to 1700 feeding, particularly on body mass gain in pharaoh quail. The body mass of birds feeding the full day was 11% heavier than those feeding from the 0900 to 1700.

The effect of diet on the body masses of turkeys has been found to be insignifi cant (LILBURN and NESTOR, 1993). Feed restriction during the rearing period reduces growth rate of turkey breeder hens, and at 29 weeks of age, ad libitum birds were reported heavier (P<0.05) than restricted birds (MILES and LEESON, 1990). Increasing the number of hens from 4 to 5 hens per cage resulted in a signifi cant reduction in feed intake and body mass gain (GOODLING et al., 1984). In this study, while the cage system did not affect body mass, the feeding time had a signifi cant effect (P<0.001). While these results are consistent with data obtained by MILES and LEESON (1990), they are not in full agreement with those obtained by GOODLING et al. (1984) and LILBURN and NESTOR (1993). This could be explained by the well ordered feeding system.

Fig. 1. Genital organs and follicles in 42-week-old pharaoh quails. The largest follicle in ovary (a), Infundibulum (b), Magnum (c), Istmus (d), Uterus with maturing egg (e), Vagina (f), Large

follicles ( ), Medium follicles ( ), Small follicles ( ), Post-ovulatory follicle ( ).


386 Vet. arhiv 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

Birds fed ad libitum showed accelerated development of comb ovary and oviduct (BRODY et al., 1980). It was shown that the early strain birds appeared to allocate a greater proportion of nutrients to reproductive development than the late group (ROBINSON et al., 2001). Feed restriction during rearing has been shown to signifi cantly delay oviduct development and age at sexual maturity, compared with feed restriction during both rear-ing and breeding. Ad libitum feeding beginning at 18 weeks of age signifi cantly increased the mass of the ovary (YU et al., 1992). Long-term feed restriction may not be necessary in order to attain good reproductive performance (BRUGGEMAN et al., 1999). In broilers, increases in ovarian and oviduct masses were observed in both those fed restricted diet alone and those fed a restricted diet diluted with maize oil (DUNN et al., 1990). In our study, the cage system and feeding time did not have a signifi cant effect on ovary and oviduct masses in both main and interactive groups. These fi ndings are important since they are inconsistent with observations made by BRODY et al. (1980), DUNN et al. (1990), YU et al. (1992), BRUGGEMAN et al. (1999) and ROBINSON et al. (2001).

The birds fed restricted diet from 7 to 15 weeks of age had higher proportional masses of ovary (> or = 1.7%) and oviduct (> or = 1.58%) at age of sexual maturity (BRUGGEMAN et al., 1999). At 36 weeks of age ISA Brown laying hen, the proportion of ovary and oviduct mass to body mass was 2.285% and 2.079%, respectively. During that period, while the length of oviduct was 73.45 cm, the mass of ovary was 41.89 g (RAHMAN et al., 1999). In this study, relative mass ovary in interactive effects, colony × 0900 to 1700 was 0.08% and relative mass oviduct, colony × full day was 2.2% at 42 weeks of age for pharaoh quail. The length of oviduct in interactive effects, colony × full day, was 268 cm. These data are not in agreement with observation made by RAHMAN et al. (1999). The results for the proportional masses of ovaries in all groups were found to be inferior to the fi ndings of BRUGGEMAN et al. (1999) and RAHMAN et al. (1999). However, the proportional masses of oviducts were found to be similar to the fi ndings of (BRUGGEMAN et al., 1999; RAH-MAN et al., 1999). The result for the oviduct length in all groups was found to be superior to fi ndings by RAHMAN et al. (1999).

Ad libitum feeding beginning at 18 weeks of age signifi cantly increased the number of large follicles at sexual maturity (YU et al., 1992). Birds fed ad libitum had a large increase in the numbers of yellow follicles (HOCKING, 1996). The ad libitum birds reached sexual maturity with 11.0 large yellow follicles (> 10 mm diameter) compared to 7.1 in restricted feeding birds. Small follicle atresia (< 5 mm diameter) was low in ad libitum birds (10.3) compared to restricted feeding birds (32.3), (RENEMA et al., 1999b). There were 3.6 small, 18.3 medium and 64.0 large follicles (85.3 in total) in 36-week-of-age ISA Brown laying hens (RAHMAN et al., 1999). In this study, the number of small follicles in colony cage 42-weeks-of-age pharaoh quails was 35. This data is inconsistent with the observations made by YU et al. (1992), RAHMAN et al. (1999) and RENEMA et al. (1999b). We observed that the cage system had a signifi cant effect (P<0.001) on the number of small follicles,


387Vet. arhiv 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

whereas feeding time did not. The interactive effect, multiple × full day feeding, was sig-nifi cant (P<0.05) on the number of small follicles. But no similar effect was seen on the number of medium and large follicles. The number of medium follicles in colony cage 42-weeks-of-age pharaoh quail was 1.56. Contrary to the fi nding obtained by RAHMAN et al. (1999) the number of medium follicles was larger in the quails. We observed that both cage system and feeding time had a signifi cant effect (P<0.05) on the number of medium follicles. The number of medium follicles in full day feeding was more than the 0900 to 1700 feeding. The same correlation was seen between the colony and multiple cage quails. The number of large follicles in colony cage 42-weeks-of-age pharaoh quail was 2. The result for the number of large follicles was found to be inferior to the fi ndings by YU et al. (1992) and RAHMAN et al. (1999). Cage system and feeding time had no signifi cant effect on the number of large follicles. Total number of follicles in multiple cage quails was more than colony-cage ones. This difference might be due to the particular conditions of each system, e.g. multiple-cage quails might have had a more comfortable microclimate compared to the colony-cage ones, which, as an environmental factor, could affect follicle numbers. The cage system was of signifi cant importance (P<0.001) for total number of follicles, whereas feeding time had no effect. The results for the total number of follicles in all groups were found to be inferior to the fi ndings of RAHMAN et al. (1999).

It can be concluded that both cage system and feeding time had an infl uence on the fe-male reproductive organs, except for diameter and number of follicles in pharaoh quails.

AcknowledgementsThe authors thank Dr. Recep Cibik and Dr. Abdullah Yalcin for their editorial assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.

ReferencesANONYMOUS (1993): Handbook of Avian Anatomy: Nomina Anatomica Avium, 2nd ed., The

Nuttall Ornithological Club. Cambridge, pp. 371-388.ANONYMOUS (2003): Humane Slaughter of Poultry. California Poultry Slaughter Regulations.

Michigan State University, article 15.1, 3 CCR 1245-13.BRODY, T., Y. EITAN, M. SOLLER, I. NIR, Z. NITZAN (1980): Compensatory growth and

sexual maturity in broiler females reared under severe food restriction from day of hatching. Br. Poult. Sci. 21, 437-446.

BRUGGEMAN, V., O. ONAGBESAN, E. D’HONDT, N. BUYS, M. SAFI, D. VANMONTFORT, L. BERGHMAN, F. VANDESANDE, E. DECUYPERE (1999): Effects of timing and duration of feed restriction during rearing on reproductive characteristics in broiler breeder females. Poult. Sci. 78, 1424-1434.


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DUNN, I. C., P. J. SHARP, P. M. HOCKING (1990): Effects of interactions between photostimulation, dietary restriction and dietary maize oil dilution on plasma LH and ovarian and oviduct weights in broiler breeder females during rearing. Br. Poult. Sci. 31, 415-427.

GOODLING, A. C., D. G. SATTERLEE, G. J. CERNIGLIA, L. A. JACOBS-PERRY (1984): Infl uence of toe-clipping and stocking density on laying hen performance. Poult. Sci. 63, 1722-1731.

HOCKING, P. M. (1996): Role of body weight and food intake after photostimulation on ovarian function at fi rst egg in broiler breeder females. Br. Poult. Sci. 37, 841-851.

LILBURN, M. S., K. E. NESTOR (1993): The relationship between various indices of carcass growth and development and reproduction in turkey hens. Poult. Sci. 72, 2030-2037.

MILES, S. A., S. LEESON (1990): Effect of feed restriction during the rearing period on the growth rate and carcass composition of turkey breeder hens. Poult. Sci. 69, 1753-1758.

RAHMAN, A. N. M. D. A., M. ASADUZZAMAN, N. K. H. ISLAM, M. Z. I. KHAN (1999): Morphometric studies of the ovary and oviduct of high and low egg producing chicken in Bangladesh. Vet. Arhiv 69, 301-308.

RENEMA, R. A., F. E. ROBINSON, M. NEWCOMBE, R. I. MCKAY (1999a): Effects of body weight and feed allocation during sexual maturation in broiler breeder hens: 1. Growth and carcass characteristics. Poult. Sci. 78, 619-628.

RENEMA, R. A., F. E. ROBINSON, J. A. PROUDMAN, M. NEWCOMBE, R. I. MCKAY (1999b): Effects of body weight and feed allocation during sexual maturation in broiler breeder hens: 1. Ovarian morphology and plasma hormone profi les. Poult. Sci. 78, 629-639.

ROBINSON, F. E., R. A. RENEMA, H. H. OOSTERHOFF, M. J. ZUIDHOF, J. L. WILSON (2001): Carcass traits, ovarian morphology and egg laying characteristics in early versus late maturing strains of commercial egg-type hens. Poult. Sci. 80, 37-46.

SIKDAR, M. (2002): Role of feeding time and food amount in the reproduction of spotted Munia. J. Environ. Biol. 23, 163-167.

YU, M. W., F. E. ROBINSON, G. R. CHARLES, R. WEINGARDT (1992): Effect of feed allowance during rearing and breeding on female broiler breeders. 2. Ovarian morphology and production. Poult. Sci. 71, 1750-1761.

ZELANKA, D. J., J. A. CHERRY, I. NIR, P. B. SIEGEL (1984): Body weight and composition of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) at sexual maturity. Growth. 48, 16-28.

Received: 12 January 2005Accepted: 8 September 2006


389Vet. arhiv 76 (5), 381-389, 2006

YILDIZ, H., B. YILMAZ, I. ARICAN, M. PETEK, A. BAHADIR: Učinci kaveznog sustava držanja i vremena hranjenja na morfološku građu spolnih organa faraonskih prepelica (Coturnix coturnix pharaoh). Vet. arhiv 76, 381-389, 2006.

SAŽETAKCilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi učinke različitih sustava kaveznog držanja i vremena hranjenja na ženske

spolne organe u 40 faraonskih prepelica. Ptice su metodom slučajnog izbora bile podijeljene u 4 skupine (2 vremena hranjenja × 2 kavezna sustava), po 10 prepelica u skupini. Prepelice su uvježbane za vrijeme hranjenja (od 0900 do 1700 ili kontinuirano tijekom cijelog dana), a držane su u kavezima za koloniju ptica. Mjerena je tjelesna masa, masa jajnika i jajovoda te odnos mase jajnika i jajovoda prema masi tijela i dužini jajovoda. Utvrđivan je broj folikula i provedeno je njihovo razvrstavanje na osnovi promjera na male, srednje i velike. Tip kaveznog sustava nije imao značajan utjecaj na spolne organe, osim na dužinu jajovoda (P<0,01). Vrijeme hranjenja također nije imalo značajan utjecaj na broj folikula s iznimkom onih srednje veličine promjera (P<0,05). Broj srednjih folikula bio je veći pri neprekidnom hranjenju cijeli dan nego pri hranjenju od 0900 do 1700 sati. Ukupni broj folikula bio je veći pri držanju u kavezu za više ptica nego kod držanja u kavezu za koloniju.

Ključne riječi: spolni organi, anatomija, kavezni sustav, vrijeme hranjenja


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